Ahmed woke up within a forest, the sun shining onto his face, it seemed more beautiful than he remembered.
He sat up and looked down on his body, he was still in the tattered combat suit that was barely covering his privates.
He was seated on a small table stone in the middle of a small meadow, the waters were still, silent and clear.
He looked at his body specifically his skin which seemed to have become lighter tone wise.
"What happened?" He asked as he rubbed his head in confusion, the last of his memories was fighting against the Dame using his bow...
"Did I pass?"
[You passed your previous trial.] A proud voice whispered into his ear, a familiar one.
"Calypso?"
[It Is I Calypso.] The voice affirmed earning a smile from the youth.
"What happened? And how are you here didn't you say I could only meet you at the start?" He raised a brow.
[Hm, I'm the overseer of all trials related to the forests, that is my domain of functioning.
I had assumed that you wouldn't be assigned any other trial related to beasts after the massacre...seems like I was mistaken.] She replied honestly.
"So do you know what happened to me in my previous trial?"
[All I know is you passed with flying colors, have a scary affinity to mana, unlocked the zone as an awakened, have a battle soul in embryonic stage and have achieved small success in two high ranking arts simultaneously.] She briefed.
"Ehh...." Ahmed stared blankly.
"Zone, battle soul, dual success, could you please explain, slowly." He requested as he rubbed his temples.
[You entered the Zone while fighting, The Zone is a state where an awakened became deeply attuned with their path and nature.
That's what happened to you when fighting against the final combatant of your previous trial.]
Calypso explained patiently
"I see, and this Zone was what helped me attain small success right?"
[Indeed, your attempt of winning by long range wasn't successful and you therefore shifted from the bow to the blade.]
"I see, no wonder..." Ahmed mumbled, "and the battle soul?"
[That...The Soul is a mysterious thing and is elusive in nature, just like Fate, Karma and Destiny, Life, Death and Soul are part of a harmonious Trinity. I'm too weak to explain it's profundities but I do know that there are some people who's soul's are born with intrinsic natures, you Ahmed were born with a soul that craves and thrives in battle hence the name battle soul.] Calypso explained to the best of her ability.
"A nature eh, so it's in my nature to fight? If that's ny nature who am I to defy or deny it." He muttered as he closed eyes and took a deep breath.
"Why do you say I have a scary affinity towards mana?" Ahmed asked while stretching his sore body.
[To make mana dance to your whims is something only the powerful can do, for you to be able to make mana follow your will even at a subconscious level is a frightening display of your affinity.] Calypso explained.
"So what's my current trial?" He asked as he prepared himself to fight.
[None yet, it's been decided that you'll be waiting in the finals for your fellow participants.] She replied.
"There's others doing the trials?"
[Yes, a boy your age, his name is Mazel Azazel, there's also a girl her name is Eve Cassandra, there's also another kid hmm, Regis, yeah those are your fellow trial takers.]
"So I can just laze around?"
[Well yes, you can also look around, all the beasts are currently tame so none will attack you, given your affinity towards the soul you might even make friends with the fae.] Calypso replied with a chuckle.
"Fae, the children of nature?"
[Is that how you call them these days?]
"Yeah, collectively, Fae, Nymphs and Spirits are all called children of nature."
[I see, then yes they are. Be nice to them, they haven't seen humans for too long.] Calypso added before going quiet.
"Thanks Calypso." Ahmed waved off as he jumped from the stone table grabbed a hanging vine and swung towards the meadows shore.
He then bowed towards the blue lights flickering above the waters and said, "thanks for healing me water spirits."
The meadow rippled slightly as if accepting his thanks before going still once more, seeing this Ahmed ran of to the forest excited to meet the fae and other natures children.